Compressing unit for inflammable gas



Dec. 22, 1931. F. A. BROWNE COMPRESSING UNIT FOR INFLAMMABLEGAS Filed Dec. 13, 1928 Patented Deer 22, 1931 Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y FRANK A. BBOWNE, or WAYNE, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNoR TO THE BARBER SPHA T V COMPANY, or PHILAD PH A, rEN vsYLvANrA, A CORPORATION or wrisrvIRcmIA p y y coivrrRnssme UNIT FOR'INILAIMMABLE eAs Application filed December 13, 1928. Serial No. 325,747.

This invention relates to a gas compressing apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus of this type for compressing an inflammable gas such as illuminating gas for use in -=";oXygen-illuminating gas cutting and welding. 7 V V Illuminating. gas as generally supplied in gas mains is under a relatively low pressure so that it is not directly usable in a welding torch. Accordingly it is necessary to use a compressing apparatus, preferably portable, to raise its pressure to asuitable degree to obtain rapid flow and consequent intensity of flame. p

Heretofore it has been customary touse a reciprocating compressor to force the gas into a large reservoir which serves to smooth out the pulsations so that a substantially uniform flow to the burner is obtainable. Be-

cause of the large sizeof reservoir necessary to insure such uniform flow itis not feasible to recover the lubricant carried into the res ervoir by the compressed gas and it is customary to waste this lubricant, drawing it ofi from time to time from the bottom of the reservoir.

' particles of lubricant in this mist do not completely coalesce in the reservoir and hence are carried over into the torch where the high temperature causes carbonization resulting in clogging of the small passages therein. In order to obtain any practical degree of coalescence whatever, it is necessary to use an excessively large reservoir in which the velocity of the gas is reduced almost to zero..

It is an object of the present invention to provide a compressing apparatus of the character described in which a small reservoir may be used permitting the recovering of lubricant thus minimizing waste and providing thorough sealing of the pump. A further object consists of the provision of means for properly separating the lubricant from the compressed gas to prevent its passage to the torch and to permit the use of a small reservoir.

thedrawingthere is iillustratediin persp'ective-racompressing unit embodying the invention. l i A The unit, which is portable and which may bemounted on wheels'or atruck, comprises achassis 2consistingofaplatform supported on legs and provided with handles 4 which provide :for ready handling. Mounted on-th'e chassis is a suitable motor 6, controlled through an enclosedswitch 8,;which motor drives a rotary compressor 10 through a belt 12 trained about pulleys on the motor and compressor shafts. 'The rotary compressor is preferably of thetype having blades slidable throughthe axis of rotation contacting" with the interior of an eccentric casing and receiving and delivering the gas through portsin the'periphery of the casing. It may, for-example, 'be ofthe construction shown in theapp'lication of Eugene-L. Barnes, Serial No. 32,117 4:, filed May 22,1925, which has resulted-in-Patent No."1,696,564, issued December 25, 1928, in which type of compressor lubricant is fed to the rotating parts-through the bearing and shaft. I

The compressor receivesgas from a main through either a flexible or rigid tube 14, and

delivers the compressed gas at 16 to a separator coil l8, preferably wound about a horizontal axis, which coil dischargesuinto the reservoir consisting of a tank 20' secured "to the chassis by suitable straps.

A discharge pipe 22 communicates'withthe top of the reservoir andis arranged to beconnected as by means'of a-fiexibl'e tube 24,with

one or a plurality of torches T.

The lubri ant inlet-at the bearing otthe compressor is connected to a "tube 26 which pas'sesintotank 20-and opens beneath anormal lubricant level therein.

to force the lubricant into the compressor.

Aby-pass pipeline 28 connects the intake and discharge-of the pump, a suitable relief valve-30 being interposed in this-line to relieve pressure in the reservoir if it becomes excessive, due, ior example,=to the lack of use of the torch or torches'when the motor is running. The connection from the 'relief The compressed gas in the tank above the lubricant thenserves IOU valve to the intaire prevents the discharge of the inflammable gas into the atmosphere.

A gauge 32 may be provided to indicate the pressure in the reservoir.

The spiral separator 18 imparts a rapid rotary movement to the compressed gas car rying entrained lubricant, the heavy lubricant being coalesced on the walls of the tube by centrifugal action. It is found preferable to arrange the spiral with its axis horizontal since it appears that lubricant collecting in the lower portions of the. turns serves to scrub the gas and remove the mist more thoroughly therefrom.

By reason of the high speed oi operation and consequent rapidity of sequence of pulsations due to the use ot a rotary compressor, the pulsations may be smoothed out to obtain an even pressure at the torch by the use of a much smaller reservoir than that required when a reciprocating pump is used. Tank 20 may, therefore, serve not only as a gas reservoir but alsoas a lubricant reservolr trom wlnch the lubricant is supplied to the compressor by the pressure of the gas therein. Separator 18 also tends to make possible the use of a small reservoir by thoroughly breaking up the mist of lubricant in the compressed gas so that the larger particles resultin from coalescence will settle in the small tank even though the gas velocity therein is not reduced to substantially zero. Accordingly it will be seen that the various parts cooperate to minimize the size of reservoir required and, thus, by permitting a circulation of lubricant, serve to economize on lubricant and permit its use in sutficient quantities to insure effective sealing of the compressor. Furthermore the objectionable clogging of the torch is avoided.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a burner, a unit for compressing inflammable gas including ;a compressor, a reservoir, a lubricant separator consisting of a spiral tube through which compressed gas passes from the compressor to the reservoir, and a conduit for leading compressed gas trom the reservoir to the burner.

2. In combination with a burner, a unit for compressing inflammable gas including a compressor, a rese voir, a lubricant separator consisting ofa spiral tube having its axis substantially horizontal through which compressed gas passes from the compressor to the reservoir, and a conduit for leading compressed gas from the reservoir to the burner.

3. In combination with a burner, a unit for compressing inflammable gas including a compressor, a reservoir, a lubricant separator consisting of a spiral tube through which compressed gas passes from the compressor to the reservoir, a conduit for leading lubricant from the reservoir back to the compressor, and a conduit for leading compressed gas from the reservoir to the burner.

4. In combination with a burner, a unit for compressing inflammable gas including a rotary compressor, a reservoir, a lubricant separator consisting of a spiral tube through which compressed gas passes from the compressor to the reservoir, a conduit for leading lubricant from the reservoir back to the com pressor, and a conduit for leading compressed gas from the reservoir to the burner.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand at Philadelphia, Pa., on this tenth day of December, 1928.

FRANK A. BROWNE. 

